Nov 4 2011

FFF6 Playlist Series – Fun Fun Fun Picks

Today is the first day of Fun Fun Fun Fest 2011, and I trust you are prepared for the multitude of fun you are about to digest. If not, might I suggest this playlist, a quickly thrown-together compilation of my picks for the weekend. Feel free to get psyched while you shuffle through. Who are you kids going to see?

Listen to the playlist on Spotify.


Oct 28 2011

FFF6 Playlist Series – Sunday’s Blue Stage

A friend of mine and I were discussing the awesome awesome lineup for Fun Fun Fun Fest this year, and recently, they announced their schedule for our viewing pleasure. My friend was excited, but admitted he knew only a few bands. Where, he wondered aloud, could he find a comprehensive rundown of each band, a sampling of their musical chops, so he could further educate himself before the finest weekend of his year? I assume the Fun Fun Fun website has such a playlist, and they do, and it’s cool, but I wanted to make my own. So every Friday, from now until the fest (that’s nine weeks), I will be posting a playlist for your educational purposes for each stage and day, excluding the Yellow stage, which is mostly comedy.

This week’s playlist covers the bands playing on the Blue (Hip-Hop/Dance) stage on Sunday – Soul Khan, SPEAK, Bird Peterson, G-Side, Grimes, MNDR, Austra, Baths, Del the Funky Homosapien, Flying Lotus, Diplo, and Odd Future.

Listen to the playlist on Spotify.

My Stage Pick: Baths

Saw this guy last SXSW, and it was pretty phenomenal for just a guy, a laptop, and some knobby board thingy. Baths chops up his songs to a degree that make them constantly engaging, but still utterly danceable. His album Cerluean is one of last year’s best, and his live show is not to be missed.


Oct 21 2011

FFF6 Playlist Series – Sunday’s Black Stage

A friend of mine and I were discussing the awesome awesome lineup for Fun Fun Fun Fest this year, and recently, they announced their schedule for our viewing pleasure. My friend was excited, but admitted he knew only a few bands. Where, he wondered aloud, could he find a comprehensive rundown of each band, a sampling of their musical chops, so he could further educate himself before the finest weekend of his year? I assume the Fun Fun Fun website has such a playlist, and they do, and it’s cool, but I wanted to make my own. So every Friday, from now until the fest (that’s nine weeks), I will be posting a playlist for your educational purposes for each stage and day, excluding the Yellow stage, which is mostly comedy.

This week’s playlist covers the bands playing on the Black (Punk/Metal) stage on Sunday – OBN III’s, Davila 666, Ceremony, NoBunny, Zero Boys, Eyehategod, Kid Dynamite, Cannibal Corpse, Boris, Black Lips, and Blonde Redhead.

Listen to the playlist on Spotify.

Missing From Playlist (not on Spotify yet): Schmillion

My Stage Pick: Black Lips

I saw these guys rule it at a Mess With Texas show several years ago – they threw hamburgers into the crowd about halfway through the set. Their new album is great and their live shows are famous for getting a little crazy. A big must-see for the Black stage for the whole weekend, maybe THE must see for this stage now that Slayer has moved to Orange.


Oct 14 2011

FFF6 Playlist Series – Sunday’s Orange Stage

A friend of mine and I were discussing the awesome awesome lineup for Fun Fun Fun Fest this year, and recently, they announced their schedule for our viewing pleasure. My friend was excited, but admitted he knew only a few bands. Where, he wondered aloud, could he find a comprehensive rundown of each band, a sampling of their musical chops, so he could further educate himself before the finest weekend of his year? I assume the Fun Fun Fun website has such a playlist, and they do, and it’s cool, but I wanted to make my own. So every Friday, from now until the fest (that’s nine weeks), I will be posting a playlist for your educational purposes for each stage and day, excluding the Yellow stage, which is mostly comedy.

This week’s playlist covers the bands playing on the Orange (Indie) stage on Sunday – Lenuria, Le Butcherettes, Asobi Seksu, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Mates of State, The Budos Band, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Architecture In Helsinki, Hum, and Blonde Redhead.

Listen to the playlist on Spotify.

Missing From Playlist (not on Spotify yet): Crooks

My Stage Pick: Hum

Take a listen to You’d Prefer An Astronaut, the classic breakthrough album for this underrated shoegaze 90’s band, and you’ll hear why I’m so excited these guys are reunited. Hearing “Stars” live is one life-long ambition I can cross off my list after November.


Oct 7 2011

FFF6 Playlist Series – Saturday’s Blue Stage

A friend of mine and I were discussing the awesome awesome lineup for Fun Fun Fun Fest this year, and recently, they announced their schedule for our viewing pleasure. My friend was excited, but admitted he knew only a few bands. Where, he wondered aloud, could he find a comprehensive rundown of each band, a sampling of their musical chops, so he could further educate himself before the finest weekend of his year? I assume the Fun Fun Fun website has such a playlist, and they do, and it’s cool, but I wanted to make my own. So every Friday, from now until the fest (that’s nine weeks), I will be posting a playlist for your educational purposes for each stage and day, excluding the Yellow stage, which is mostly comedy.

This week’s playlist covers the bands playing on the Blue (Hip-Hop/Dance) stage on Saturday – Cecil Otter, Purity Ring, T-Bird and the Breaks, Brandt Brauer Frick, Cold Cave, Childish Gambino, Rakim, Dan Deacon, Neon Indian, and Major Lazer.

Listen to the playlist on Spotify.

Missing From Playlist (not on Spotify yet): B-L-A-C-K-I-E, Wugazi

My Stage Pick: Purity Ring

After jamming to “Belispeak,” “Lofticries,” and “Ungirthed” this year, this group’s upcoming debut LP is one of my most anticipated albums currently. I am curious to see how this group’s ethereal synth-pop translates to the stage.


Sep 30 2011

FFF6 Playlist Series – Saturday’s Black Stage

A friend of mine and I were discussing the awesome awesome lineup for Fun Fun Fun Fest this year, and recently, they announced their schedule for our viewing pleasure. My friend was excited, but admitted he knew only a few bands. Where, he wondered aloud, could he find a comprehensive rundown of each band, a sampling of their musical chops, so he could further educate himself before the finest weekend of his year? I assume the Fun Fun Fun website has such a playlist, and they do, and it’s cool, but I wanted to make my own. So every Friday, from now until the fest (that’s nine weeks), I will be posting a playlist for your educational purposes for each stage and day, excluding the Yellow stage, which is mostly comedy.

This week’s playlist covers the bands playing on the Black (Punk/Metal) stage on Saturday – Touche Amore, Death Grips, The World Inferno/Friendship Society, Trash Talk, Youth Brigade, Paint It Black, Dead Horse, Negative Approach, Cave In, Hot Snakes, and The Damned.

Listen to the playlist on Spotify.

Missing From Playlist (not on Spotify yet): Thieves, Shapes Have Fangs

My Stage Pick: Trash Talk

I would watch this show just to hear “Awake” in a live setting – if the new song is any indication, these guys have not lost their ability to completely destroy eardrums and blow minds. Like most Black stage shows, I would of course be watching from a safe distance, as I’m sure this will be one of the wildest pits of the weekend. Wear a helmet!


Sep 23 2011

FFF6 Playlist Series – Saturday’s Orange Stage

A friend of mine and I were discussing the awesome awesome lineup for Fun Fun Fun Fest this year, and recently, they announced their schedule for our viewing pleasure. My friend was excited, but admitted he knew only a few bands. Where, he wondered aloud, could he find a comprehensive rundown of each band, a sampling of their musical chops, so he could further educate himself before the finest weekend of his year? I assume the Fun Fun Fun website has such a playlist, and they do, and it’s cool, but I wanted to make my own. So every Friday, from now until the fest (that’s nine weeks), I will be posting a playlist for your educational purposes for each stage and day, excluding the Yellow stage, which is mostly comedy.

This week’s playlist covers the bands playing on the Orange (Indie) stage on Saturday – Maneja Beto, Future Islands, Joe Lally, The Joy Formidable, Tune-Yards, Tinariwen, Ra Ra Riot, M83, Girls, Lykke Li, and Spoon.

Listen to the playlist on Spotify.

Missing From Playlist (not on Spotify yet): Keep Shelly In Athens

My Stage Pick: M83

Like there was any doubt who I would be picking this time around.  Anthony Gonzalez and his crew are one of my favorite bands ever, and the new album is incredible.  You can bet I will not be missing the opportunity to hear the fresh material live and seeing them live for the first time ever.  M83 is not only my personal highlight for this stage/day, but the entire fest.  But for what it’s worth, I’m also pretty stoked for Tune-Yards and The Joy Formidable.


Sep 16 2011

FFF6 Playlist Series – Friday’s Blue Stage

A friend of mine and I were discussing the awesome awesome lineup for Fun Fun Fun Fest this year, and recently, they announced their schedule for our viewing pleasure. My friend was excited, but admitted he knew only a few bands. Where, he wondered aloud, could he find a comprehensive rundown of each band, a sampling of their musical chops, so he could further educate himself before the finest weekend of his year? I assume the Fun Fun Fun website has such a playlist, and they do, and it’s cool, but I wanted to make my own. So every Friday, from now until the fest (that’s nine weeks), I will be posting a playlist for your educational purposes for each stage and day, excluding the Yellow stage, which is mostly comedy.

This week’s playlist covers the bands playing on the Blue (Hip-Hop/Dance) stage on Friday – Fat Tony, Auto Body, Pictureplane, Franki Chan, Black Milk, Omar Souleyman, Big Freedia, YACHT, Spank Rock, Four Tet, and Public Enemy.

Listen to the playlist on Spotify.

Missing From Playlist (not on Spotify yet): DJ Car (Stereo) Wars

My Stage Pick: Public Enemy

Friday’s headliner lineup is pretty great (Passion Pit, Reggie Watts, Danzig Legacy), but there’s no denying the headliner of the whole fest is Chuck D, Flava Flav, and the rest of the crew.  Do yourself a favor and mosey on over to the Blue stage for a spell and it’s pretty much guaranteed you won’t be disappointed.  These guys are hip-hop legends for a reason.


Sep 9 2011

FFF6 Playlist Series – Friday’s Black Stage

A friend of mine and I were discussing the awesome awesome lineup for Fun Fun Fun Fest this year, and recently, they announced their schedule for our viewing pleasure.  My friend was excited, but admitted he knew only a few bands.  Where, he wondered aloud, could he find a comprehensive rundown of each band, a sampling of their musical chops, so he could further educate himself before the finest weekend of his year?  I assume the Fun Fun Fun website has such a playlist, and they do, and it’s cool, but I wanted to make my own.  So every Friday, from now until the fest (that’s nine weeks), I will be posting a playlist for your educational purposes for each stage and day, excluding the Yellow stage, which is mostly comedy.

This week’s playlist covers the bands playing on the Black (Metal/Punk) stage on Friday – Defeater, Mind Spiders, Bane, Doomriders, Ty Segall, From Ashes Rise, D Generation, Thee Oh Sees, Russian Circles, Murder City Devils, and Danzig Legacy (Danzig playing Misfits tunes.)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify.

Missing From Playlist (not on Spotify yet): Total Control

My Stage Pick: Thee Oh Sees

John Dwyer’s experimental left-field home recording project has taken on a life of its own, with a fan base possibly more devoted than his previous outings, including the Coachwhips.  If you’ve never seen Thee Oh Sees, prepare to have your mind blown.  There’s no other way to describe it; Dwyer never fails to amaze.


Sep 5 2011

The Songs of Summer 2011

Today is Labor Day and I’m a week into school, so for me, and many others, summer 2011 is over and done with, even though my thermometer and the official calendar would disagree. Last night it cooled down here in Austin to “West Texas evening” degrees, which is good enough for me to declare that autumn approacheth, though it’s probably going to take its sweet time getting here. Anywho, as is the case this time every year, I have compiled a short list of my “songs of the summer.” Some people like lazy-time summers filled with laid-back tunes and relaxing choruses. Me, I’m more of a “let’s dance all season long” kind of guy, and this selection reflects that. What are your favorite songs from the past 3-4 months? What were you rocking while dehydrating?

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